We’ve heard singers botch the words to the National Anthem, we’ve seen them forget the words, and we’ve heard them deliberately butcher what should be a serious song paying tribute to our nation’s history. Well Steven Tyler sang the National Anthem at The Patriots Ravens playoffs Sunday and he sounded like he was doing an Aerosmith ballad. He even did a little vocal riff for “Land of the Free.” The crowd was both booing and cheering, so I guess it’s safe to say he got a mixed reception.

Steven Tyler took some heat Sunday after singing an off-kilter, screechy version of The Star-Spangled Banner before an NFL playoff game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, Mass.

The crowd at the game began heckling the American Idol judge, 63, as he worked his way through the national anthem, missing notes and flubbing lyrics.

He sang “as bomb bursting in air” instead of “the bombs bursting in air” and “oh the land of the free” instead of “o’er the land of the free.”

ESPN analyst Skip Bayless spoke for many when he Tweeted: “How could Patriots be inspired by that awful Anthem sung by Steven Tyler? At least give him some screaming guitars to camouflage voice.”

The journalist and humorist Greg Gutfeld added: “i went outside to put a raccoon out of its misery – then i realized my neighbor was watching Steven Tyler sing the Star-Spangled Banner.”

Others felt that the frontman of Boston-based Aerosmith was just being himself. “I’m not understanding the people who say Steven Tyler ‘butchered’ the national anthem,” wrote one of his fans on Twitter. “He sang as he always does … what were you expecting?”

Some of the YouTube comments note that this is just how Steven sings, and that it was decent to awesome. Others say it was bad and disrespectful, and mention that Steven did screw up the lyrics. He sang “And the rockets’ red glare, as bombs bursting in air.” The real line is “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” but it’s a very minor difference and not what the crowd was responding to. (People claims he sang “Oh the land of the free,” but I didn’t hear that, I thought he said “O’er.”) One commenter noted that it was more disrespectful for the crowd to boo the Anthem than for Steven to sing it like classic rock. Personally I wouldn’t be offended by this, but I’m not a sports-goer by any means. People who are true sports fans take the Anthem very seriously.

I don’t think it’s bad. He’s a rock singer, he sang it rock-style.
(And he’s actually reaching all the notes right, which is remarkable since at some points they go so high up!)
Maybe the organizers should have thought of that before hiring him?

He’s always been a screamer, what did the numb-nuts who hired him expect?
It’s not his fault that that he is aging, and like everything else on his body (memory, skin elasticity, continence), his vocal chords are failing. He wasn’t disrespectful, he was Steven Tyler, and I’m sure he did the best he could.

p.s. I could record the coyotes in our valley at night and sync it to the National Anthem if someone wants to pay me a ridiculous sum.

I like his version a lot better than many of the renditions I’ve heard over the years. I like that (for the most part) he didn’t drag out the last words of each line to ‘spice it up’. I really don’t know how to describe what I’m trying to say haha. There are a lot of singers who when singing the anthem drag out the words. Like when Christina Aguilera sang it. I don’t know if they’re trying to show off how high they can go, or what but it annoys me. It cheapens it. I like that besides two different times Steven really just sang it in a way that was to the point.

Well, it was f*cking freezing, which anyone who sings, knows can make it very difficult, and, yeah, that’s just kinda how he sings. He sang it how he wanted to. It just … sounded like Steven Tyler, tbh. I kind of cant believe I am seeing this story here; if I were a musician you couldn’t pay me enough to sing that anthem, any more.

Anyway, I’m still sick because of that damn game, GDI cuntdiff! Not entirely his fault but he was terribad all season. One of the more gutting moments I’ve ever experienced w/ sports, and definitely as a Ravens fan.

I know there are no tears in football but I felt TERRIBLE for that kicker. I guess it’s easier to be empathetic when you’re rooting for the opposing team. Anyway, I would probably piss my pants if I was a place kicker-too much pressure…

Nope. I felt really, REALLY bad for him, too! Sooo much pressure, and it didn’t cost them the game; after all, it would have only tied and sent them into overtime. Still … he should’ve made it. No excuses.

They should give up trying to find someone who can sing the anthem. It seems like everyone fucks it up in some way: They forget the words, add their own, or forget where they are and do their vocal exercises and make it five hours long.

Yes, I’m quite aware of Leif’s past, and I’m aware of the tragic things that many former child actors and teen pop idols have suffered. Justin should enjoy his success, but if he’s not careful he could easily succumb to the same pitfalls that many young celebrities experienced before him, especially when he’s no longer on top.

Call me cynical, call me blunt, but don’t get self-righteous towards me on a gossip blog that mocks celebrities. I’m sure you’ve written positive things about a celebrity you like. But I don’t believe for one second that you haven’t made fun of a celebrity you dislike. We’ve all done both, so spare me the sanctimonious tone.

Monday night, there was a segment on Nightline about celebrities botching the national anthem. Funny thing is, Tyler had previously sung it at the 2001 Indianapolis 500. He got it right the first time.

I totally don’t get what the big deal is. This is how Steven Tyler sings. When did Dream On come out? 1971 or something? I mean, did anyone think he was suddenly going to turn into a classically trained singer or something? NO. Also, at his age, he isn’t going to have the sort of range he used to. I’ve heard much worse.

What were ppl expecting? Tyler’s known for his raspy, screechy voice. Getting upset at the way Steven sang (aside from his fairly minor lyrical mistakes) is like getting upset at an opera singer not “rocking out” while covering an Aerosmith song. Courtney Love can’t sing like Mariah Carey and Mariah Carey can’t sing like Courtney Love. Apples and oranges.

I love Steven Tyler. He’s an icon and will always be one of the best rock voices of our time. He’s getting older and voices get older too. Leave the man alone, he still rocked it and was much more interpretive and artistic than Kristin Chenosomethings boring and generic rendition.

Are you kidding?! I like Steven Tyler too but accopella??? Kristin was not BORING she was great! With all the vocal artists that would have felt HONORED to sing it and would have brought tears to our eyes and they chose him?? What’s worse is he and JLo are who are deciding who the next singing star will be. Again I love him but this was an awful rendition and an example of how NOT to sing the National Anthem.

Like everybody else, I expected worse after reading all the criticism. After hearing him, it’s obvious he struggled with & failed to hit the same notes most other singers do (even those with better quality voices)

I thought it was fine – he’s gonna be Steven Tyler and that’s how he sings. He even seemed to sing a bit restrained/conservative which I appreciated as it’s appropriate for the anthem – the song is not about him. He’s an aging legendary rocker and looks like a crazy gypsy – always has and I love it. Haters – lay off!

As a classical singer, I don’t know what the big deal is?? Steven Tyler has ALWAYS sung like this. This isn’t anything new. He has had vocal cord surgery for Pete’s sake because of his accessive screaming, horrible technique, and after had extreme therapy on his cords. I have heard worse National Anthems by people who sang it ‘correctly’. At least it wasn’t lip synced either!I thought his rendition was creative and stayed with the integrity of the song. Now, Kristin Chenoweth was amazeballs during the second game, just sayin’

I’m from Canada, so maybe it’s different, but even if someone was BOTCHING our national anthem I would NEVER, EVER boo it. I think that’s so incredibly disrespectful. And I don’t think he did too badly. He’s steven tyler, and he sang like steven tyler. What was anyone expecting?

With that said, I’ve had enough of singers trying to showcase their vocal range while singing the National Anthem. It’s not a concert, they’re not there to make an impression. They forget that it should be an honor to sing the National Anthem and they should treat it with respect, but only a couple of them do.